'There's just so much that's going to be there:' 149th annual Bay County Fair kicks off Tuesday, Aug. 5

BAY CITY, MI — Christina DuBay stands with two of her children near the chicken coop at their Beaver Township farm, speaking affectionately about the annual Bay County Fair & Youth Exposition.

DuBay was raised on a farm and she's happy to see her kids get so involved in 4-H and the fair, which she calls one of the highlights of the summer.

"They wish they could have fair two or three times a year," she said.

"Just the friendships that the kids build," DuBay said of 4-H. "The biggest thing for me nowadays, the kids spend time with Facebook, social media, Xbox, and they don't get that work ethic we did."

Schedule of Events

Here is an abbreviated schedule of events for the 149th annual Bay County Fair & Youth Exposition, which takes place Tuesday through Saturday, Aug. 5-9 at the Bay County Fairgrounds, 800 Livingston St. on Bay City's East Side. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.baycountyfair.com and click on "Events."

7 p.m. — Bump n Grind Race with Demo Derby Heat in the grandstand. Tickets are $10 for those age 12 and older, $5 for children ages 5-11 and free for kids 4 and younger

Hannah Bohlinger, DuBay's daughter and soon to be a sophomore at Bay City Western High School, said she, too, is looking forward to fair week.

"I know more people now, so it should be more fun," she said.

The 149th annual Bay County Fair and Youth Exposition kicks off on Tuesday, Aug. 5 and continues through Saturday, Aug. 9.

This year's installment features a variety of 4-H events — like a livestock auction, large and small animal contests and still projects display — as well as midway rides and grandstand shows.

Mary Jo Brandt, president of the Bay County Fair Board, said that this year's event offers plenty of "community involvement," including a performance by Expressions in Motion Dance & Gymnastics Studio, a demonstration by Master Charlie's International School of Martial Art & Fitness, the Midland Community Tennis Center tennis cage, dog shows from Kaybee's K9 Training and the Central Michigan University Skylab Portable Planetarium.

"Next week is going to be pretty full," Brandt said. "We have something for everyone out there, young and old. It's just a good family fun time. There's more here than we've had in previous years, so there's going to be more to see."

The week's unofficial start is Sunday, Aug. 3, when the Parade of Champions Horse Show kicks off at 9 a.m., with judging for 4-H youths' still projects later that day.

On Tuesday, though, the fair opens for a week of events at the Bay County Fairgrounds, 800 Livingston St. in Bay City. Brandt said that the event offers free admission and charges $5 for parking.

Midway and grandstand events

Midway rides, hosted by D&R Shows, run from noon to 10 p.m. from Tuesday through Saturday, with prices for all-day ride wristbands varying through the week. On Tuesday and Thursday, bracelets cost $6, and on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, they'll cost $16.

In addition to midway rides, daily events include a fairground-wide youth scavenger hunt from 2-9 p.m. as well as "Chase's Famous Racing Pigs," which are scheduled to run three races a day and four on Saturday. Brandt added that vendors, with items ranging from flea market finds to arts and crafts, will be present throughout the week as well.

Grandstand events are scheduled for 7 p.m. on four nights during the week, with a figure 8 demoliiton derby on Tuesday, a tractor-pull on Wednesday, a rodeo on Friday and a demolition derby and "bump n grind" race on Saturday.

Tickets to grandstand events are available at the gate, Brandt said, and are priced by age. Admission is free for kids ages 4 and younger, $5 for those ages 5-11 and $10 for those ages 12 and older.

Daily themes

Besides daily attractions, Brandt added this year's fair has themed days throughout the week, beginning with "Family Day" on Tuesday, during which visitors will see $6 ride wristbands, as well as an activity tent where kids can construct a woodworking project for free from 1-5 p.m. Kits will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Later in the day, free fingerprinting will be available for children, Brandt said.

Wednesday is Safety Day, which will see stations and presentations from agencies including fire and police officials, as well as Consumers Energy.

Thursday is Senior Day and Agriculture Day, which offers free parking to guests 60 years and older as well as $6 ride wristbands for all guests. A pie-baking contest takes place at noon and the day's events include an agriculture showcase.

Friday is 4-H Day, which features agriculture-themed games at 1 p.m. and an afternoon-long blood drive that will see Michigan Blood give $10 to Bay County's 4-H youth program for every person who attempts to donate. Bay County 4-H youth will be offered ride wristbands for $6, as well as a ticket to the evening's rodeo event for $5.

The week wraps up with Armed Forces Day on Saturday, which offers free parking to anyone with a military I.D., and features a color guard memorial ceremony at 1 p.m., as well as presentations from caretakers of the USS Edson. Brandt added that presenters on a replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall will be present in advance of the monument's visit to the Auburn area in September.

4-H events

The week features a full slate of 4-H events, with highlights including the opening ceremonies at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, large animal judging at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, and a livestock auction at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. On Friday, events include a 4-H archery competition at 10 a.m., as well as the "Ag Olympics," featuring agriculture-themed games at 1 p.m. Registration is required for the Ag Olympics.

Brandt said organizers are looking forward to this year's event.

"There's just so much that's going to be there and so much that everyone can see," Brandt said. "We're ready to develop the grounds and get everyone there to enjoy it."

— Sam Easter is a general assignment reporter for The Bay City Times. He can be reached at seaster@mlive.com.